Ernie Els has a swing as smooth as butter and fresh resolve to establish his game in 2006.
With arguably the most coveted swing in modern golf, Ernie Els has established himself as a consistent competitor. On the heels of a disappointing 2005 in the majors Els has retooled his bag and his swing in hopes of improving in 2006. His quiet nature, easy smile, and fluid swing give off an aura of class and humility that makes people miss him when he’s gone.
The most dominant woman golfer of our day, Annika Sorenstam is enjoying her best years on the LPGA Tour.
It’s pretty hard to argue that Annika Sorenstam is anything less than the most dominant woman in sports. She has been at the top of her sport since she joined the LPGA Tour in 1995. She stacked win upon win again in 2005, finishing the season with an astounding nine-win season. She has won more than eight tournaments in a season four different times. The last six years in particular she has owned the LPGA tour win column. Since 2000 Annika hasn’t won any less than five tournaments per year. The little blond from Sweden is a fierce competitor and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Sand Trap staff member Stacy Solomon recently featured the dominant Swede in Annika Sorenstam’s “Vision 54.” Here are some more thoughts on the most dominant of women golfers.
The PGA Tour is in need of strong leadership as it navigates to the future. Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has an opportunity to plot a good course.
Anyone following the PGA Tour knows that 2007 will bring significant changes to the season’s schedule. A shorter season, playoffs, and what is being called “The Quest for the Card” are all a around the corner. The man steering the ship into new waters is PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
Jason Bohn jumped from 131st on the money list in 2004 to 34th in 2005. He’s going to have to buckle down to stick around after the 2006 season is over.
When Jason Bohn was seven years old he dreamed of winning on the PGA Tour. For the first thirty-odd years of his life he pursued that goal but failed to attain it. He had spent years on mini-tours, on the Canadian Tour, and Nationwide Tour chasing that dream but it had eluded him. After a long struggle he earned his card in 2003 by finishing 9th on the Nationwide money list. In the process he won the Chattanooga Classic by posting a 263, a new tournament record.
Following Ryan Moore from his dominant college days to success on sponsor’s exemptions has been fun to watch. Look for him to get even better.
When Ryan Moore turned pro prior to the Barclays Classic there was plenty of reason to believe that he could qualify to play on the 2006 PGA Tour. But would he? No one since Tiger Woods had played his way onto Tour and no one has done it with as much flair.
In 1996 Tiger played the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open as an amateur and turned pro prior to the Greater Milwaukee Open where he tied for 60th place. 5 events later he was hoisting a trophy at the Las Vegas Invitational. Two weeks beyond his first win he captured the Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic. While Ryan Moore has yet to win an event on Tour, he has five top-25’s under his belt so far and is well on his way to a solid career as a professional. His amateur performance is as good as any.
Brandt Jobe has taken the scenic route to the PGA Tour and seems to have enjoyed the journey as much as the destination.
While nothing like the fraternity of former presidents, the PGA Tour is an exclusive club. Countless talented players ply their trade on lesser tours the world over wishing one day to make a permanent home in golf’s version of the West Wing: PGA Tour exempt status. From time to time one of them scratches their way in and get a shot at recognition and a big payday. Todd Hamilton’s 2004 British Open shows what the lesser-known player can do. Brandt Jobe is one, like Hamilton, who took the long way to play the PGA Tour.
Michelle Wie stood to bring home a better-than-average allowance until disqualified a day after her round.
Sports Illustrated journalist Michael Bamberger had a twinge of conscience the day after Michelle Wie took a drop after declaring an unplayable lie. Bamberger felt that Wie had dropped the ball closer to the hole than her original position. Further inspection and discussion with rules officials seemed to confirm that she had taken a drop approximately one foot past the original lie. Had Bamberger brought up the infraction immediately Wie would have brought home a paycheck instead of a goose-egg.
There are two relevant issues here. The first thing to consider is that Bamberger clearly should have brought up the discrepancy immediately. If he felt that she had taken an illegal drop he should have gone to a rules official on the spot and cleared his aching conscience then. Withholding this information for a day cost Wie a paycheck and caused her unnecessary embarrassment. Correcting her mistake was impossible as she had already signed her card. Had the issue been brought to light at the moment, she could have corrected her mistake.
Who could have known that Michael Campbell would take center stage this year?
Emerging from relative obscurity, New Zealander Michael Campbell has asserted himself as one of the finest players of 2005. His solid performance at the U.S. Open certainly put him on the map for many who didn’t know he existed. Time will tell if he can secure a long stay as one of golf’s elite.
In a not-so-subtle twist of irony Tiger Woods’ luxury yacht “Privacy” is in the news again.
Christensen Shipyards have been ordered to cease using Tiger Woods’ name and photograph in connection with their luxury yachts. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge William Zloch, upholds the original terms of sale.
The suit claims $75,000 in initial damages. The lawsuit claims that Woods’ star status could bring damages to a mind boggling $50 million according to the terms of the lawsuit. Christensen Shipyards stood to gain financially using Woods’ name and chose to use Woods as advertising leverage against the explicit language of the contract.
